Shooting threat to riot arsonists

Arsonists attacking commercial properties with links to people's homes could be shot by police during future riots, an official review of police tactics said.

The use of firearms could be justified given the "immediacy of the risk and the gravity of the consequences", legal advice published in the review said.

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Morgan: UK libel laws 'onerous'

Former tabloid newspaper editor Piers Morgan has told an inquiry into press standards that "ethical considerations" had been "interwoven" into his work.

But Mr Morgan, former editor of the Daily Mirror and News of the World, told the Leveson Inquiry that British libel laws had imposed "enormously onerous" requirements.

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Pension 'deal-breaker' withdrawn

A letter which sparked fears that a deal on local government pensions could unravel has been withdrawn, the Government has announced.

The GMB said it was reconsidering its position on an agreement in the light of "new conditions" laid down by Eric Pickles's department.

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Storm upsets PM's Afghanistan plans

David Cameron has flown into Afghanistan to pay a pre-Christmas visit to troops - but his plans were left in tatters by bad weather.

The Prime Minister had been due to make a morale-boosting trip to Camp Bastion in Helmand province, where most British forces are based.

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Two remanded over stabbed inspector

Two people have been remanded in custody after a rail ticket inspector was stabbed in the back.

Charles Culley, 19, of Darwin Road, Tilbury, Essex, has been charged with wounding and common assault.

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Bank 'taking eurozone precautions'

The Bank of England is making preparations to support UK banks in the event of a break-up of the eurozone, deputy governor Charlie Bean has confirmed, describing the present state of the single currency area as a "worrying situation".

Mr Bean said that the Bank has recently introduced a temporary loan facility as a precaution, for use in the event of contagion from the eurozone crisis endangering British institutions.

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Terror suspect held at airport

A man is being questioned under the Terrorism Act after he was arrested at a UK airport, police said.

The man, 22, was arrested at Birmingham International Airport on Monday night.

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Five jailed for paedophile abuse

A woman and four men have been jailed for their part in an international paedophile ring which committed "horrific" crimes against two young children in the UK and one in Australia.

Ringleader Robert Hathaway, 37, of Tyseley Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, was given an indeterminate sentence of 12 years at Portsmouth Crown Court while his partner Melissa Noon, 30, received four years.

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Toddler death 'probably avoidable'

A toddler's death "probably would have been avoided" if police, social services and health chiefs had not returned him into an "unsafe environment", a coroner said.

Two-year-old Joshua Jones, from Runcorn, Cheshire, died on November 6 2007.

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Muggers 'snared via Facebook hunt'

A mugging victim has told how he tracked down two of his attackers by sifting through Facebook to find their photos.

The robbers who picked on Daniel Kaye laughed moments after they were handed sentences of 12 years and seven years at Teesside Crown Court.

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